Dan Sanford and Matthew Mathias

Sports Editors

das6267@psu.edu

mcm5909@psu.edu

With the regular season of the NFL right around the corner, football fans got their final glimpse of their favorite teams before the action truly begins. Throughout the weekend, the trend of preseason injuries to significant players continued, and there were many excellent and poor performances alike.

For perhaps the majority of football fans at Behrend, attention will be turned to one of the four AFC North teams. The Baltimore Ravens have once again looked dominant in their preseason run, and continue to hold a consecutive win streak in the preseason dating back to the final preseason game for the 2015 season. However, the 37-3 blowout victory over the Washington Football Team came at a steep price. Running back J.K. Dobbins, who was to become the Ravens’ official starter this season after appearing in nearly every game last season, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) early in the first quarter on only his second carry. He was brought down by Washington linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk and cornerback Jimmy Moreland, and landed awkwardly on his knee between the two defenders. 

Although Baltimore still won the game handily, their rush game generally struggled, and the Ravens used five different players to attempt to light a spark in their run attempts. Nate McCrary took the lion’s share of the work, averaging 3.1 yards over 68 carries. Tyler Huntley’s passing proved much more effective, as he threw 24 completions for 285 yards and 4 of the team’s 5 touchdowns that afternoon. Lamar Jackson briefly saw action, completing 3 of 4 passes. Binjimen Victor and James Proche stood out in receiving, averaging 17 and 13 yards per catch, respectively, and each picking up a touchdown over their combined total of nine catches.

In the Ravens’ last two games, they have outscored their opponents 57-6 (their previous victory was 20-3 over the Carolina Panthers). Their first victory was more modest, walking away 17-14 over the New Orleans Saints. Something to keep a close watch on is how the Ravens adapt to their new running situation. Can they pull off a consistent, sustainable full season without Dobbins? Backup Gus Edwards, who played only two snaps for a respectable 27 yards, is primed to carry the workload until further notice.

The Pittsburgh Steelers think they just might have this stability. Alabama first-round draft pick Najee Harris has quite the hype surrounding him, although the Steelers have thus far used him sparingly. His two receiving plays in the second preseason game against the Detroit Lions yielded him 53 yards, but he only managed 10 total rushing yards that game over 4 carries. Perhaps the Steelers are just flexing their options in the preseason and they already know who they want at the top, but it definitely is something to keep close watch of.

The ever-looming quarterback question has been the main thing the Steelers offense has been attempting to answer in this preseason. Obviously, Ben Roethlisberger is not getting any younger (despite what some of his on-field play may suggest at times). The job of second-string, and possible successor to Roethlisberger, is a bid between Mason Rudolph, who has previously had starting experience through most of the 2018 season in Roethlisberger’s absence, and Dwayne Haskins Jr., who was acquired as a free agent from Washington. 

Haskins played well during the first official preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, completing 16 of 22 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown in a 24-16 comeback victory after trailing 16-0. However, Rudolph thus far has shown a more consistent performance, completing 8 of 9 passes that game and getting more playtime in their 26-20 win over Detroit, as he completed 13 of 18 throws. Haskins did receive additional time to prove himself in the game against Carolina, while Rudolph was rested in favor of Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs himself completed 6 of 11 passes for 35 yards as the Steelers struggled to stop a quick-moving Carolina team, falling 34-9. Finally, in the game against Detroit, as Roethlisberger was breaking in the new season, the Steelers may have found a new tight end and student favorite in the meantime to look forward to: former Nittany Lion Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth, who was drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, caught two consecutive red zone passes for back-to-back touchdowns in the first quarter against Detroit.

The Cleveland Browns have been dubbed one of the favorite contenders coming out of the AFC and the division according to many NFL analysts. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has finally gained some traction alongside second year head coach Kevin Stefanski, leading the team to it’s first 11 win season since 1994. The Browns, like the Ravens, also had a successful preseason. They went 3-0 during the preseason as they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 23-17, the New York Giants, 17-13, and the Atlanta Falcons, 19-10. The Browns certainly did not blow out any teams like the Steelers or Ravens had done, but regardless they found a way to win as many believe that they can and will do this upcoming season. 

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be returning to the receiving corps to kick off the year and hopes to bounce back after injuries plagued him in the 2020 campaign. Running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are poised to dominate the field with their stout running game behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. The Cleveland defense looks as ready as it has ever been to compete against electric offenses this season. With stars like defensive lineman Myles Garrett, cornerback Denzel Ward, and recently acquired outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, many believe that there is nothing this team isn’t equipped to face.

Last but not least, the Cincinnati Bengals look to bounce back from a tough season after going 4-11 with one tie. The Bengals 2nd year quarterback Joe Burrow got off to a tough start as the then rookie had a season-ending leg injury. Cincinnati struggled throughout the preseason, going 1-2. Although they defeated the defending Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, by a score of 19-14, they suffered defeats to the Washington Football Team by a 17-13 margin and to the Miami Dolphins in a close 29-26 bout. 

The worry many have for this team for the 2021 season is primarily the health and safety of young star Joe Burrow behind a weak offensive line. The injury still concerns many, even the second-year quarterback himself. He had not played a snap in a preseason game until their final bout in the third week where he finally had a chance to gain some confidence in his body again. The Bengals drafted Burrow’s former LSU teammate, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, with the fifth overall selection this offseason. Chase has seen his share of struggles during the preseason, as he suffered greatly from dropped passes. Many chalk this up to be nerves and rookie jitters, but some are more concerned that this trend may carry into the regular season. The Bengals offense hopes to rely on the chemistry that these two players had at the collegiate level as well as the success of fellow receivers Tyler Boyd and second year receiver Tee Higgins, who had quite the breakout performance last season. Joe Mixon rounds out Cincinnati’s offensive weapons poised to take the field in September. With the loss of Giovanni Bernard in free agency this past offseason, Mixon has solidified his role in the offense and looks to provide the boost his team needs in the running game.